Operations Research

We identify new solutions to transportation problems, on the ground, in the air, or on the sea, transport of people or goods, whatever the mode. We focus on technical solutions, but also on their impact on the system as a whole. We are also interested in the interactions of the transportation systems with the land use, the economy, the environment, etc.

Capacity building program in urban mobility and transportation

The purpose of this project is to develop graduate curriculum in urban mobility and transportation. The relevant courses of this curriculum will be available in MOOC format. This program is a collaborative project between Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Urban Transport Systems Laboratory (LUTS) and Transport and Mobility Laboratory (TRANSP-OR) at EPFL.

Principal investigator

Michel Bierlaire

Project managers

Yousef Maknoon, Riccardo Scarinci

Sponsor

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs

Period

September 01, 2016-September 01, 2019

External collaboration

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

External collaboration

LUTS

LaTeX description

Incorporating advanced behavioral models in mixed integer linear optimization

Discrete choice models are used for detailed representation of the "demand". However, their complexity makes mathematical formulations highly non convex in the explanatory variables. On the other hand, Mixed Integer Linear Programs (MILP) are optimization problems with discrete variables that are used in many applications to design and configure the "supply". In this project, we propose a new modeling framework that allows to include any random utility model in a mixed integer optimization formulation. The heterogeneity of demand is captured within the general choice model framework and the offers are tailored in a way that is beneficial for users as wells as providers. The main objective of the project is to obtain a framework that is both general, so that it can be applied in many applications, and operational, so that it can be used in practice.

Principal investigator

Michel Bierlaire

Project manager

Shadi Sharif Azadeh

Sponsor

Swiss National Science Foundation

Period

April 01, 2016-March 31, 2019

Collaborator

Meritxell Pacheco

LaTeX description

TRANS-FORM: Smart transfers through unravelling urban form and travel flow dynamics

TRANS-FORM, a cooperation between universities, industrial partners, public authorities and private operators, will develop, implement and test a data driven decision making tool that will support smart planning, and proactive and adaptive operations. The objective of the project is to better understand transferring dynamics in multi-modal public transport systems and develop insights, strategies and methods to support decision makers in transforming public transport usage to a seamless travel experience by using smart data. The tool will integrate new concepts and methods of behavioral modelling, passenger flow forecasting and network state predictions into real-time operations. TRANS-FORM is funded under the European Commission Horizon 2020 ERA-NET program.

Principal investigator

Michel Bierlaire

Project managers

Shadi Sharif Azadeh, Riccardo Scarinci

Sponsor

The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC)

Period

March 03, 2016-March 03, 2019

Collaborator

Nicholas Molyneaux

LaTeX description

myTOSA 2.0 - Enhanced simulation and optimization tool for cost-optimal deployment of TOSA electric buses

The TOSA catenary-free electric bus system is the ABB response to the challenge of decreasing the environmental impact of public transportation. The project builds on the previous CTI project - myTOSA - and it aims to introduce new business analytics features and to improve the fidelity of the simulation and (robust) optimization modules used for a cost-optimal deployment of the TOSA charging infrastructure and component sizing.

Principal investigator

Michel Bierlaire

Project managers

Riccardo Scarinci, Virginie Lurkin

Sponsor

Commission pour la technologie et de l'innovation, Office Fédéral de la formation professionnelle et de la technologie.

Period

September 30, 2015-November 16, 2017

Collaborators

Shadi Sharif Azadeh, Yousef Maknoon

External collaboration

ABB, ABB Sécheron

External collaboration

HES-SO Haute Ecole Spécialisée de Suisse occ.

LaTeX description